Flow switch

ABSTRACT

A flow switch assembly which includes a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatably engaged relative each other. The upper and lower body portions define a chamber. The housing includes an inlet and outlet to the chamber. A valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing for movement between an open position establishing at least one passage between the inlet and the outlet and a closed position wherein the at least one passage between the inlet and the outlet is non-established (preferably by said valve member sealing at least one of said inlet and outlet). There is also provided interactive cam elements associated with at least one of the upper body portion and the lower body portion, and associated with the valve member, are provided for moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to the lower body portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 60/675,668 filed Apr. 28, 2005, entitled “A FLUID SWITCH,” thedisclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flow switch. Specifically althoughnot solely the present invention relates to a flow switch for or of aconsumer beverage container such as a beverage or water bottle, thatincorporates the switch at the spout end of the container to control thedispensing of liquid from the container.

Specifically although not solely the present invention may also relateto a flow switch that may have application other than for beveragecontainer applications and that will hereinafter be described withreference to the drawings and detailed descriptions.

BACKGROUND

Drink containers that are currently in common use for the purposes ofcontaining liquid such as water are common. They normally incorporate aspout that is engaged by a valve to control the dispensing of the liquidfrom the reservoir of the container. A valve used for such applicationsis for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 6758359. It consists of avalve housing and a movable valve element that moves in an axialdirection to open and close the spout.

The valve unit of U.S. Pat. No. 6758359 can have significant limitationsand disadvantages. When such a valve is used by a consumer the valveelement can require considerable force to move it between opened andclosed conditions. Consumers often utilise their teeth to grasp themovable valve element to open it. This can damage teeth, particularly ofyounger persons having teeth that may not be able to withstand theconsiderable force required to open the valve unit.

The valve unit of U.S. Pat. No. 6758359 is also generally only capableof having a single purpose, being to open and close an outlet opening.It would be an advantage if a bottle could contain a valve that could beutilised for other purposes or have additional functionality.

Whilst in our published PCT application WO2004/106782 reference is madeto the use of a valve for use with a beverage container, the valvelargely only has an open/closed function. Further enhancements aredesirable, other applications utilising a more efficient valve toperform sealing or to provide further functionality would be beneficial.

In this specification where reference has been made to patentspecifications and other external documents, this is generally for thepurpose of providing a context for discussing the features of theinvention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to suchexternal documents is not to be construed as an admission that suchdocuments, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, areprior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a flowswitch and/or container or dispenser with a related flow switch, thataddresses the abovementioned disadvantages or addresses theabovementioned desiderata or which will at least provide the public witha useful choice.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flow switchthat provides improvements over that disclosed in WO2004/106782 or thatwill at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a flow switchassembly comprising;

(a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower bodyportion that are rotatably engaged relative each other, the upper andlower body portions defining a chamber, the housing including an inletand outlet to said chamber

(b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing formovement between a position (herein after “open position”) establishingat least one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a position(herein after “closed position”) wherein said at least one passagebetween said inlet and said outlet is non-established (preferably bysaid valve member sealing at least one of said inlet and outlet),

(c) interactive cam elements associated with (i) at least one of (a)said upper body portion and (b) said lower body portion, and (ii) thevalve member, the cam elements positioned to effect movement of thevalve member between the open position and the closed position when theupper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower bodyportion.

Preferably when said valve member is in said open position, said valvemember establishes at least one passage between said inlet and outlet.

Preferably said valve member is seated by said valve housing forrotation relative to said valve housing, about a first axis.

Preferably the moving of said valve member between the open position andthe closed position by said cam elements is actuated when the upper bodyportion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower body portionabout its axis of rotation that is perpendicular to said first axis.

Preferably said inlet is provided by said lower body portion and saidoutlet is provided by said upper body.

Preferably said inlet and said outlet are provided in diametrically ofsaid valve member opposed locations.

Preferably the cam elements include (i) at least one cam surface formedat the exterior surface of the valve member and (ii) a cam followerformed at the interior surface of the upper body portion of the housing.

Preferably the cam elements include (i) at least one cam surface formedinto the exterior surface of the valve member and (ii) a cam followerformed on the interior surface of the upper body portion of the housing.

Preferably the cam surface is defined by a slot into which the camfollower is located.

Preferably said valve member is seated in said chamber and mounted byaxles positioned diametrically opposed to said valve member, forrotation relative to said valve housing about a first axis, and whereinsaid lower body portion is engaged (directly or indirectly) to saidupper body portion to rotate relative to each other about an axis thatis non parallel to said first axis wherein said cam elements include acam follower and at least one cam surface with which said cam followerinteracts, said cam follower carried by said upper body portion torotate along an arc about said second axis lying in a planeperpendicular said second axis where said arc passes through a planepassing through and parallel said first and second axes and wherein saidat least one cam surface defines two regions for engagement by said camfollower, a first region to be engaged by said cam follower when saidcam follower is rotated toward a first distal end of said arc and asecond region to be engaged when said cam follower is rotated towardsthe other distal end of said arc, said engagement effecting saidrotation of said valve member about said first axis

Preferably said first and second axes are perpendicular to each other.

Preferably arc is bisected by said plane passing through and parallelsaid first and second axes.

Preferably said first and second regions are each disposed proximate oneof said axles.

Preferably said first and second regions are each disposed on the sameside as the upper housing of a plane in passing through and parallelsaid first axis and to which said second axis is normal.

Preferably said first and second regions of said at least one camsurface each define a surface of said at least one cam that areintersected by a plane in which said arc sits, at least when said valvemember is intermediate of said open and closed positions.

Preferably said first and second regions are each defined by a discretesaid cam surface.

Preferably a single said cam surface is defined that is of a V orU-shaped configuration to define said first and second regions.

Preferably said at least one cam surface is defined by two lobes on thevalve member positioned in a “V” shaped configuration of said first andsecond region.

Preferably said lower body portion provides said inlet to said chamber,and wherein said lower body portion is integrally formed with acontainer.

Preferably said container is a consumer beverage container.

Preferably a second valve housing is provided, said second valve housingincluding an upper body portion (the “second upper body portion”) and alower body portion (the “second lower body portion”), the second upperand lower body portions defining a chamber (the “second chamber”)capturing a valve member (the “second valve member”), the second valvehousing including and inlet and outlet to said second chamber,

said second valve member seated in the second chamber of the secondvalve housing for movement between a position (herein after “openposition”) defining a passage (the second passage) between said inletand said outlet of said second valve housing and a position (hereinafter “closed position”) wherein said second passage is non-established(preferably by said second valve member sealing at least one of saidinlet and outlet of said second chamber),

interactive cam elements associated with said second valve housing andthe second valve member for moving the second valve member between theopen position and the closed position when the second upper body portionof the second valve housing is rotated relative to said second lowerbody portion,

wherein a duct is provided intermediate of or defined by said firstmentioned upper body portion and said second lower body portion todefine a passage between the first mentioned outlet and said secondinlet wherein said duck may preferably include an opening.

Preferably said first mentioned upper body portion is engaged orintegrally formed with said second lower body portion.

Preferably said first mentioned valve member can move independently ofsaid second valve member.

Preferably said duct retains a tablet.

Preferably said first mentioned inlet is of a size to allow the passingof said tablet from said duct through said inlet when said firstmentioned valve member is in said open position.

Preferably, when said valve member is in said open position, said valvemember establishes a plurality of said passages between said inlet andoutlet.

Preferably said valve member includes a plurality of ducts to define atleast two of said passages and wherein at least one of said lower andupper body portions includes a plurality of said inlet and outletsrespectively, each duct of said plurality of ducts capable, upon therotation of said valve member, of moving into and out of a said openposition being one where at least one passage is established between (i)an or the inlet of said lower body portion and (ii) an or the outlet ofsaid upper body portion.

Preferably each said plurality of ducts are mutually exclusive inproviding a passage between an or the said inlet and an or the outlet,to the other of said plurality of ducts or ducts of said valve member.

Preferably said valve member has a plurality of ducts to each define asaid passage at different angles of rotation of said valve member otherthan when said valve member is in the closed position.

Preferably said plurality of ducts are discrete ducts through said valvemember.

Preferably said plurality of ducts is a bifurcated duct.

Preferably said valve member includes a duct therethrough via which saidpassage is established, said duct including an outlet opening, saidvalve member being shaped to present said outlet opening projectingbeyond said outlet of said housing when said valve member is in saidopen position.

Preferably a removable overcap is provided, said housing engagable witha removable overcap to conceal said outlet of said housing.

Preferably said overcap can engage with said housing only when saidvalve member is not in said open position.

Preferably said upper and lower body portions each include overcapreceiving regions, said receiving regions of said upper and lower bodyportions being movable relative to each other to be in and out ofregister with each other, wherein when in register they are only thencapable of engaging said overcap with said housing, said means to engagebeing in register only when said valve member is not in said opencondition.

Preferably a ring is provided to engage about at least part of both ofsaid upper and lower body portions to lock relative rotation therebetween until such time as said ring is released from said upper andlower body portion.

Preferably said upper and lower body portions include a receptacle toreceive a locking element to lock relative rotation of said upper andlower body portions, said receptacle being defined by both said upperand lower body portions.

Preferably said upper body portion and said lower body portion arerotatably engaged with each other to allow relative rotation about anaxis, there being provided by said upper and lower body portions a meanscooperative to, at a rotational position of said upper and lower bodyportions corresponding to the valve member being in at least one of saidopen and closed position, draw said upper and lower body portionstogether more to thereby effect a clamping of the valve member by saidhousing to encourage said valve member to thereby sealingly engage oneof said inlet and outlet.

Preferably said means cooperative is a cam and cam follower provided bysaid upper and lower body portions respectively.

Preferably said means cooperative are complementary threads is providedby way of a threaded engagement of said upper and lower body portions.

Preferably said clamping by said valve housing with said valve memberoccurs at at least one of said inlet and outlet to said chamber to sealagainst said valve member about said inlet and/or outlet.

Preferably one of said upper and lower body portions includes a skirtregion with an internally presented interface region to interface withan externally presented interface region of the other of said upper andlower body portions to hold said upper and lower body portions togetherfor said relative rotation about said axis, said skirt region includinga cam surface providing cam surface deviation in a direction parallel tosaid axis and over which a cam follower of the externally presentedinterface can slide, said deviation being such that the cam follower isdisplaced in a direction parallel to said axis by said cam surface.

Preferably said upper body portion and said lower body portion arerotatably engaged with each other to allow relative rotation about anaxis, and wherein said upper and lower body portions can displacerelative each other in a direction parallel the axis, said displacementcontrolled by a threaded engagement of said upper and lower bodyportions said threaded engagement being such that at a rotationalposition of said upper and lower body portions corresponding to thevalve member being in at least one of said open and closed position,said upper and lower body portions are in a more proximate displacementto effect a clamping of the valve member by said housing to encouragesaid valve member to thereby sealingly engage one of said inlet andoutlet.

Preferably said upper body portion and said lower body portion arerotatably engaged with each other to allow relative rotation about anaxis, and wherein said upper and lower body portions can displacerelative each other in a direction parallel the axis, said displacementcontrolled by a ramped surface of at least one of said upper and lowerbody portions interacting with a reaction surface or like ramped surfaceof the other of said upper and lower body portion at a rotationalposition of said upper and lower body portions corresponding to thevalve member being in at least one of said open and closed position,said upper and lower body portions are in a more proximate displacementto effect a clamping of the valve member by said housing to encouragesaid valve member to thereby sealingly engage one of said inlet andoutlet.

Preferably said upper and lower body portions are rotatable relative toeach other about an axis, the rotation being indexed by indexing meansof said valve housing cooperating between said upper and lower bodyportions.

Preferably said indexing means encourages the holding of a relativerotational position (herein after “an index position”) of said upper anlower body portions.

Preferably a said index position is when said upper and lower bodyportions are rotated relative to each other corresponding to said valvemember being in said open condition.

Preferably a said index position is when said upper and lower bodyportions are rotated relative to each other corresponding to said valvemember being in said closed condition.

Preferably a plurality of said index positions are provided.

Preferably a spring is provided to bias the rotation of said valvemember for rotation towards one of said open and closed conditions.

Preferably said spring is mounted to act between said valve member andsaid lower body portion to bias said valve member.

Preferably said spring is mounted to act between said upper and lowerbody portions to bias their relative rotation to bias said valve member.

Preferably said valve member is mounted by said lower body portion byaxles that define an axis of rotation about which said valve member canrotate and relative to which said lower body portion remains stationaryand said upper body portion can rotate about said axis relative saidlower body portion that is non parallel to said first axis.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a consumerbeverage container comprising;

a container portion

a lower valve body portion integrally formed with said containerportion,

an upper valve body portion rotatably engaged with said lower valve bodyportion and defining with said lower valve body portion a chamber, saidlower valve body portion including at least one passage creating aninlet to said chamber to allow fluid passage between said containerportion and said chamber, the upper valve body portion including anoutlet to said chamber,

a valve member seated in the chamber, said valve member mounted formovement between a position (herein after “open position”) defining atleast one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a position(herein after “closed position”) wherein said at least one passagebetween said inlet and outlet is non-established (preferably said valvemember sealing at least one of said inlet and outlet),

means operatively associated with (i) at least one of (a) said upper and(b) lower valve body portions, and (ii) the valve member, for moving thevalve member between the open position and the closed position when theupper valve body portion of the housing is rotated relative to saidlower valve body portion.

In a further aspect the present invention consists a consumer beveragecontainer including a container defining body having an outlet fortransferring fluid to and from said container defining body and a flowswitch assembly as herein described to operatively control the transferof fluid.

Preferably the lower body portion of said flow switch is integrallyformed with said container defining body.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a consumerbeverage container comprising a container body portion having a flowswitch assembly controlled outlet wherein said flow switch assembly isone as herein described.

Preferably said first mentioned lower body portion is integrally formedwith said container defining body.

Preferably said first mentioned lower body portion is engaged with saidcontainer body portion.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a flow switchassembly comprising;

(a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower bodyportion that are rotatable relative each other, the upper and lower bodyportions defining a chamber, said lower body portion including aplurality of inlets to said chamber and said upper body portionincluding at least one outlet to said chamber,

(b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing, saidvalve member mounted for movement relative to said valve housing betweendiscrete positions each of said discrete positions allowing theestablishment by said valve member of a passage between one of saidinlets and (a) or the said outlet,

(c) interactive camming elements associated with said valve housing andthe valve member for moving the valve member between the discretepositions when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relativeto said lower body portion.

Preferably said valve member is mounted for movement relative to saidvalve housing between discrete positions being ones (i) defining of apassage between a said inlet and a or the said outlet and (ii) defininga closed position, wherein said valve member seals at least one of (a)all of said inlets and (b) said outlet(s).

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a flow switchassembly comprising;

(a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower bodyportion that are rotatably engaged to each other, the upper and lowerbody portions defining a chamber, said lower body portion including atleast one inlet to said chamber and said upper body portion including aplurality of outlets to said chamber,

(b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing, saidvalve member mounted for movement relative to said valve housing betweendiscrete positions each of said discrete positions allowing theestablishing by said valve member of a passage between (a) or the saidinlet and one of said outlets,

(c) interactive cam elements associated with said valve housing and thevalve member for moving the valve member between the discrete positionswhen the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relative to saidlower body portion.

Preferably said valve member is mounted for movement relative to saidvalve housing between discrete positions being ones (i) defining apassage between one of said outlets and a or the said outlet and (ii)defining a closed position, wherein said valve member seals at least oneof (a) all of said outlets and (b) said inlet(s).

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a containercomprising;

a housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion,the upper and lower body portions defining a chamber, the housingincluding an outlet to said chamber,

a container member seated in the chamber of the housing, said containermember including a reservoir to contain a substance and including atleast one outlet for said substance, said container member mounted formovement between a position (herein after “open position”) allowing atleast one passage to be formed between said outlet of said containermember and said outlet to said chamber and a position (herein after“closed position”) wherein said container member seals said outlet ofsaid chamber,

interactive camming elements associated with said housing and thecontainer member for moving the container member between the openposition and the closed position when the upper body portion of thehousing is rotated relative to said lower body portion.

Preferably said container member includes only one outlet that isrotatable to be contiguous with said outlet of said housing when saidcontainer member is rotated to said open position.

Preferably, when said container member is in said open position, saidcontainer member establishes at least one passage to allow displacementof said substance between said fluid outlet and outlet of said housing.

Preferably said container member is mounted by said valve housing forrotation relative to said valve housing, about a first axis.

Preferably said container member is substantially spherical in its outerperimeter shape.

Preferably said chamber of said housing is of a substantiallycomplementary shape to said spherical container member.

Preferably said housing includes at least one other outlet in additionto said first mentioned outlet and with which said outlet of saidcontainer member can create a passage to allow transfer of saidsubstance from said reservoir.

Preferably said outlet(s) of said housing are provided by said upperbody portion.

Preferably at least one tablet is disposed in said valve member andwherein at least one of

(a) said outlet; and

(b) said passage created when said valve member is in the opencondition,

prevents displacement of said tablet through said outlet when said valvemember is in the open position yet said inlet is of a shape to allowsaid tablet to pass therethrough when said valve member is in said openposition.

Preferably said valve element can include a tablet and wherein saidoutlet is of a shape that prevents the passage of said tablet throughsaid outlet.

Preferably said outlet is of a smaller size than said inlet.

Preferably said passage is formed by at least one duct passing throughsaid valve member, said duct having an inlet and an outlet that when inan open position of the valve member are presented to the inlet andoutlet of said housing respectively to create said passage.

Preferably a said duct includes a constriction between said inlet andoutlet.

Preferably said duct includes a tablet that is prevented by saidconstriction from displacing through said outlet of said valve member.

Preferably said duct includes a tablet that is prevented by saidconstriction from displacing through said outlet of said valve member.

Preferably said passage formed in the open position includes aconstriction wherein said tablet is prevented by said constriction fromdisplacing through said outlet of said valve member.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a flow switchassembly comprising;

(a) a valve housing that includes an upper body portion and a lower bodyportion that are rotatably engaged relative each other, the upper andlower body portions defining a chamber, the housing including an inletand outlet to said chamber

(b) a valve member seated in said chamber of the valve housing androtatable about an axis of rotation between two limits of rotation, saidvalve member including a plurality of ducts each including an inlet andan outlet opening to said inlet and outlet of said housing to create atleast two passages between said inlet and outlet of said housing whereinat least one of said passages is created at different rotationalpositions of said valve member between its limits of rotation,

(c) interactive cam elements operatively associated with (i) at leastone of (a) said upper body portion and (b) lower body portion, and (ii)the valve member, for moving the valve member between its limits ofrotation when the upper body portion of the housing is rotated relativeto said lower body portion.

Where reference herein is made to a “valve” it is understood to be areference to a “flow switch” of any of the kind herein described withreference to the invention. Furthermore whilst reference maypredominantly be made to such a flow switch or valve being used forbeverage containers, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in theart that other applications for the control of fluid flow or flow ofsolids by the flow switch of the present invention can be catered for.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts,elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification ofthe application, individually or collectively, and any or allcombinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, andwhere specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually setforth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For convenient references aspects of the present invention are explainedwith and without reference to prior art by way of the drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a valve assembly of WO2004/206782,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the valve assembly of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in an alternative direction and of slightvariation to the valve assembly of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3A illustrates the fluid of FIG. 1 engaged with a consumer beveragecontainer and wherein the valve member is shown in an open condition,

FIG. 3B shows the valve member positioned intermediate of a fully openand fully closed condition of the valve assembly,

FIG. 3C illustrates the valve member in a condition where the assemblyis fully closed,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 engaged with aconsumer beverage container and also illustrating an overcap,

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the components of the assembly ofFIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a side view of a valve member illustrating an alternativeconfiguration of lugs and camming pins to that shown in the FIGS. 1-5,

FIG. 7 illustrates the same valve member as shown in FIG. 5, but whereinthe valve member has been rotated,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a valve member showing longitudinal andlatitudinal designations for the purposes of illustrating the mechanismof movement,

FIG. 9 is an end view of a valve member looking onto the pole for thepurposes of illustrating the mechanism of movement of the valve member,

FIG. 9 a is a view from another side of the valve member of FIG. 9illustrating an undesired positioning of the cam pin relative to thevalve member 5,

FIG. 9 b is an end view like the end view shown in FIG. 9 illustratingthe cam lobes of the valve member 5,

FIG. 9 c is a side view of a valve member showing a cam surface of acontinuous form rather than being defined by two discrete cam lobes asshown in FIG. 9 b,

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow switch engaged with a beverage container,

FIG. 10 a illustrates the top end of a consumer beverage containerhaving integrally formed, a lower body portion of the valve housing,

FIG. 11 is a side view of a flow switch assembly variation whereinprovided are two valve members; a single upper body portion and twolower body portions, relative to which the upper body portion can rotatethe upper body thereby simultaneously controlling two valve members,

FIG. 11 a is a plan view of a valve member illustrating a passage notextending through the valve member but created in part by the valvemember,

FIG. 11 b is a side view of the valve member of FIG. 11 a,

FIG. 11 c illustrates a variation to the configuration shown in FIG. 11,

FIG. 11 d illustrates a further variation,

FIG. 11 e illustrates yet a further variation to those shown withreference to FIGS. 11, 11 c and 11 d,

FIG. 12 is a side view of a flow switch assembly in part shown in crosssection wherein the valve member is not of an entirely spherical shapebut includes a cutaway region to define a spout of the valve member,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the assembly of FIG. 12,

FIGS. 14-17 a illustrate multiple flow path enabling variations of aflow switch assembly of the present invention,

FIG. 18 illustrates in cross section a flow switch assembly variationwherein no inlet port is provided and where the valve member defines acavity for containing the fluid to be dispensed through the outlet,

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an overcap to be utilised with a flowswitch assembly in a manner such that the overcap can only be engagedwhen the flow switch assembly is in a closed condition,

FIG. 20 is a side and partial sectional view of a flow switch assemblywith apertures to be aligned between the upper and lower body portionsto receive the legs of the overcap as shown in FIG. 19 to allow theovercap to only be engageable with the flow switch assembly when theflow switch assembly is in the closed condition as shown in FIG. 19,

FIG. 20 a is a perspective view of a variation to the lock describedwith reference to FIGS. 19 and 20,

FIG. 20 b is a further variation to that shown in FIG. 19, 20 and 20 a,

FIG. 21-24 illustrate various views of a flow switch assemblyincorporating a wedge or cam like element for the purposes of assistingin creating a tight seal at and immediately prior to where the valvemember is in a substantially closed and/or open condition,

FIG. 21A is a plan view of for example the flow switch assembly of FIG.21 wherein driving surfaces are provided to one or both of the upper orlower body portions to allow for a crescent or other driving device tobe selectively engaged therewith,

FIG. 22 is a sectional view through a flow switch assembly illustratinga cam or wedge like arrangement for the purposes of sealing the valvemember when in either the closed or opened condition,

FIG. 22A is a perspective view of the lower body portion illustrating anexample of a wedge like member for engagement with an interactiveportion either a lug upstand rebate or a wedge like or cam like followerof the upper body portion,

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of FIG. 22 wherein the valve member is shownin an intermediate position,

FIG. 24 is a view of FIG. 22 but wherein the valve member is in a fullyopen position,

FIG. 25 is a side view of a flow switch assembly illustrating theincorporation of a spring biased lug that can be utilised to establishindexing or ratchet like relative positioning of the lower and upperbody portions to allow for the valve member to be moved to discreteangular rotations, having particular application where there is multiport alignment capabilities provided by the flow switch assembly as forexample shown in FIGS. 14-17,

FIG. 25 a is an alternative side view of a flow switch assemblyillustrating the incorporation of ratchet surfaces that can mate witheach other for the purposes of an indexed locking of the upper and lowerhousing or providing an interference fit between the upper and lowerhousings to restrict or restrain or limit relative movement,

FIG. 26 is a plan view of a flow switch assembly in schematicillustrating how the flow switch assembly may include a spring toencourage one of the upper or lower body portions to be biased in onerotational direction relative to the other,

FIG. 27 is a side view of a valve member illustrating an alternativeposition of the cam lobes,

FIG. 28 is a front view of the valve member of FIG. 27,

FIG. 29 illustrates a flow switch assembly showing non-axially alignedinlet and outlet ports and a non-axial passage passing through ordefined by the valve member,

FIG. 30 illustrates the flow switch of FIG. 29 but in a closedcondition,

FIG. 31 illustrates a variation to a valve assembly of the presentinvention which is for example integrally formed with a container andwherein the valve assembly can contain a tablet or pill or solid whichcan only be dispensed into the container and not through the outlet, and

FIG. 32 illustrates a variation of the valve assembly of FIG. 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identifysimilar structural elements or features of the subject invention, thereis illustrated in FIG. 1 a flow switch or valve assembly 1 of prior artas found in our PCT Application WO2004/106782. More detail of the valvemechanism operation are described in WO2004/106782 which is herebyincorporated by way of reference. Various flow switch assemblies of thepresent invention define variations from the prior art. The variationsare preferably for use in consumer beverage applications howeveralternative applications such as but not limited to plumbing orhydraulics, may also be mentioned or be apparent. Where reference hereinis made to fluid or fluid flow or fluid communication it should also beappreciated that this could also be reference to solid or particulatematerials.

The flow switch assembly 1 includes, inter alia, a valve housing 2having an upper body portion 3 and a lower body portion 4 and a valvemember 5 preferably of a spherical shape. The upper and lower bodyportions 3,5 of the housing 2 define an internal cavity 6 to capture thevalve member 5. The flow switch assembly may have a central axis “X”.The housing 2 preferably also has inlet and outlet ports 7 and 8respectively, formed in the lower and upper body portions 4 and 3respectively. These are diametrically opposed on each side of the valvemember 5, but with respect to the present invention this axial alignmentneed not necessarily be so (see for example, FIGS. 29 and 30 for anillustration of alternatives).

The valve member 5 is seated within the internal cavity 6 of the valvehousing 2 and has a passage 9 extending therethrough. The valve member 5is mounted for movement within the internal cavity 6 of the housing 2between an open position and a closed position. FIG. 3A illustrates flowswitch assembly 1 in the open position; wherein the passage 9 of thevalve member 5 allows fluid communication between the inlet port 7 andthe outlet port 8 of the valve housing 2. In a like manner, FIG. 3Cillustrates the flow switch assembly 1 in the closed position; whereinthe passage 9 of the valve member 5 is positioned relative to the inletand outlet ports 7/8 of the valve housing 2 to prevent flow of fluidbetween the ports. FIG. 3B, shows detail of the valve assembly 1 in anintermediate position.

Valve member 5 (which is preferably spherical in shape but could beslightly non-spherical) moves between the open position and the closedposition when the upper body portion 3 of the housing is rotated aboutthe central axis “X” with respect to the lower body portion 4. The valvemember 5 is mounted for rotation within the interior chamber about anaxis “Y” (see FIG. 3B) extending preferably perpendicular to the centralaxis “X” defined by the upper and lower body portions 3, 4 of the valvehousing 2. The chamber need not be one that fully encloses the valve butcould be one where the valve is at least partially exposed to theoutside.

The valve member 5 may include a sealing surface 11 that is adapted forsealing engagement with annular valve seat 12 formed in the housing 2when the valve is in a closed position.

Two, preferably diametrically opposed, pivot pins 13 (only one pin isshown in FIG. 2) extend radially outwardly from the surface of the valvemember 5 for accommodation within diametrically opposed recesses 14 andformed in a lower body portion 4 of the housing 2 to facilitate therotation of the valve member 5.

A camming or driving mechanism is operatively associated with the valvehousing 2 and the valve member 5 for moving the valve member 5 betweenthe open position of FIG. 3A and the closed position of FIG. 3C. Thecamming mechanism may include cam lobes 16A, 16B (protrusion orprojection from the valve element 5 or recesses (such as a scallop) intothe valve element 5) formed at the exterior surface of the valve member5 and a cam pin that extends inwardly (preferably radially inwardly)from the interior surface of the upper body portion 3 of the housing 2to cooperate with the cam lobes. The interaction therebetween allows formovement of the valve member between open and closed conditions uponrelative rotation of the upper and lower body portions.

With reference to FIG. 8 there is shown a reference to the valveassembly including the valve member 5 rotating about the axis YYsupported by the pivot pins 13. Drawn on the spherical valve member 5,are lines of longitude 50 that extend between the poles at the pivotpins 13. The sphere also includes lines of latitude 51 including theequator line 52 midway between the opposed poles.

As also shown in FIG. 8 is an upper body portion 3 that is shown in anexploded view relative the valve member 5 and wherein it is positionedfor rotation about the axis XX. Shown on the upper body portion 3 areits lines of longitude 53 and its lines of latitude 54. Also shown isthe cam pin 17 mounted by the upper body portion 3 and mounted formovement parallel to the latitudinal lines 54. In the preferred formwhere the XX and YY axes are perpendicular to each other, the lines oflatitude 54 of the upper body portion 3 lie parallel to the YY axis.Likewise the lines of latitude 51 of the valve member 5 lie parallel tothe X axis. Positioning of the cam pin 17 of the upper body portion 3 ispreferably such that it is located proximate the axis YY and proximatethe poles at pivot pins 13. Interaction of the cam pin with the camlobes at this region results in favourable mechanical advantage to beprovided during the rotation of the upper body portion 3 about the axisXX with the valve member 5. With reference to FIG. 9, it can be seenthat a movement of the cam pin 17 along a latitudinal line or plane ofthe upper body portion 3 between its left most limit of movement at 17Land its right most limit of movement at 17R results in the cam pin 17traversing across a higher density of longitudinal lines 50 of the valvemember 5. In other words, for the same arc travelled by the pin 17 alongone of its latitudinal lines the pin will cross more lines of longitudeat this more preferred location of the pin, than at an arc that isfurther from the pole 13 towards the equator 52. Also the further thecam pin 17 is positioned towards the pole 56 of the upper body portion3, the less the mechanical advantage will become. In the preferred formthe cam pin 17 has its limits of movement provided on either side of theplane sitting in the X-X and Y-Y axes (i.e. the XY plane).

FIG. 9 a illustrates a positioning of the cam pin 17 in a undesirableposition. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9 a in this position the cam pin islocated proximate the equator 52 of the valve member 5 and movesparallel to the YZ plane (i.e. in a latitudinal line 54 of the upperbody portion 3 but only on one side of the XY plane of the valve housing5). Such positioning of the cam pin is undesirable as it does nottraverse a high density of longitudinal lines 50 of the valve member 5to effect favourable mechanical advantage. Other inherent problems mayalso arise.

Although not shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cam lobes present a reactionsurface that may each extend parallel a line of longitude 50 of thevalve member. However alternatively the reaction surface may traverseacross the line of longitude of the valve member 5. The reaction surfaceof a cam lobe need not be a straight surface but may be curved yet stillallow for the cam pin 17 to react therewith for the purposes ofdisplacing and rotating the valve member 5 about the YY axis. Such avariation is for example shown with reference to FIG. 9 b, where the camlobes 16 a and 16 b have reaction surfaces 59 and 60 respectively thateach traverse a respective line of longitude 50 of the valve member 5.

Whilst reference herein is made to longitudinal and latitudinal lineshaving direct reference to a spherical valve element, it will beappreciated that other forms of valve elements will have similarprinciples at work given that such will still have two poles.

A further variation to the cam lobes is shown with reference to FIGS. 6and 7 wherein the reaction surfaces 59 and 60 are parallel each otherand intermediate of which the cam pin 17 is placed. FIG. 7 illustratesthe cam pin 17 being displaced to the left side of the XY plane therebyhaving rotated the valve member 5 in a anticlockwise direction about theYY axis. The reaction surface 60 of the cam lobe 16 b has beeninteracted with by the cam pin 17 in rotating the valve in theanticlockwise direction. Rotation of the cam pin 17 about the XX axis inthe opposite direction will result in a returning of the valve member 5to the position shown in FIG. 6. The return rotation will result in thecam pin 17 engaging with the reaction surface 59 of the cam lobe 16 a. Aclose positioning of the two reaction surfaces 59 and 60 when the campin is at its extremes of rotation, will result in little or no playexisting between the interaction of the cam pin 17 with the reactionsurfaces 60 and 59. Such play can be minimised by a positioning of thecam pin 17 proximate more the pivot pins 13 where for example the camlobes are in a V-shaped configuration. They may also be of a U-shapedconfiguration. The reaction surfaces are preferably straight whenlocking onto the valve but they may also be curved other than beingcurved to follow the surface of the preferred spherical valve member.Alternatively, an appropriate positioning of the V-shaped cam lobes suchthat their reaction surfaces traverse across the lines of longitude 50or by having cam lobes that are of or tend towards a parallelconfiguration as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may have similar effect.

However one of the potential disadvantages of parallel cam lobes asshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is for example with reference to FIG. 7. Upon thereturn of the cam pin 17 to rotate the valve member 5 in a clockwisedirection, the angle of incidence of the movement of the cam pin 17(parallel to the ZZ plane) with the reaction surface 59, may be an anglethat is too shallow and may result in jamming or an un-rotatable valvemember. The angle T as shown in FIG. 7 is relatively large and thereforea shallow angle of contact is made between the reaction surface 59 andthe cam pin 17 upon the movement of the cam pin 17 to rotate the valvemember 5 in the clockwise direction. The further that the angle tendstowards 90 degrees or zero degrees and away from 180 degrees, the lesslikely that such jamming will occur.

A person skilled in the art will realise that variations to thispreferred configuration can occur including where the XY plane and theZY planes are not perpendicular of each other.

The degree of play may be dependent on the degree of separation of thereaction surfaces at the latitude of the upper body portion at where thecam pin is mounted. Where the surfaces are of a V-shaped configuration,the closer that the cam pin is mounted towards the apex of the V, theless play there will be. The apex of the V (whether or not the surfacesin fact touch each other) may be at the pole of the valve member or mayterminate at a latitude of the valve member away from the pole.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a flow switch assembly engaged with a beveragecontainer 10. The flow switch assembly 1, can be threadingly engaged toa beverage container 10 as a result of the beverage container providinga threaded spout 18. The spout is for example integrally formed with thecontainer portion 19. The beverage container 10 may be formed using anysuitable method including blow or injection moulding and may be formedof plastic or any suitable material and may be of a size sufficient tocontain beverages such as water or flavoured water or soft drink or thelike. The container may also include carbonated liquid. The flow switchassembly 1 may include a collar 20 that includes an internal thread thatis engageable onto an external thread of the spout 18. A sealingengagement between the valve assembly 1 and the spout 18 can beestablished so that contents of the beverage container 10 can passthrough the spout 18 and through the flow switch assembly 1.

Also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is an overcap 21 that can engage over theoutlet port 8 of the flow switch assembly 1 so as to conceal both theoutlet port 8 and the surrounding external region with which the mouthof a consumer is, in a usual manner of use, engaged. The overcap hencetherefore provides hygiene advantages. It may also include tamperevident features. So may the valve assembly.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 10 a there is shown improvements to thearrangement of FIGS. 1 to 5. The flow switch assembly 1 as shown in FIG.10 is in part defined by a portion integrally formed with the beveragecontainer 10. In FIG. 10 a the lower body portion 4 of the flow switchassembly is shown integrally formed with the beverage container 10. Thelower body portion 4 defines those features that have hereinbefore beendescribed with reference to the flow switch assembly but are provided ina manner integrally formed with a beverage container 10. The upper bodyportion 3 and valve member 5 can, in a like manner as previouslydescribed, engage with the lower body portion 4 as shown in FIG. 10, todefine a flow switch assembly 1. Alternative modes of engagement of thelower body position to the container may also be provided. Such mayinclude push fit or adhesive or welded engagement.

The example of FIG. 10 allows for a beverage container incorporating aflow switch assembly 1 to be provided that may utilise less plasticsmaterials and may also be cheaper to produce as a result of fewerassembly steps.

The lower body portion 4 may be defined integrally with the beveragecontainer 10. Various methods of manufacture can be employed. Such mayinclude an injection moulding or by a blow moulding of such. Whilst thetolerances in blow moulding may not be as accurate as in injectionmoulding, the flow switch assembly 1 can be designed so that with lowertolerances, adequate sealing and closure of the flow switch assembly 1can still be established. The lower body portion 4 need not in fact beof a tolerance to encourage a sealing of the container 10, by the valvemember 5. In this regard, sealing may be achieved by the interaction ofthe valve member 5 with the upper body portion 3. The lower body portion4 need only be of a tolerance sufficient to cradle the valve member 5and to provide the recesses 14 and 15 for defining a pivot for the pivotpins 13.

With reference to FIG. 11 there is shown a variation to the flow switchassembly 1. In FIG. 11 there is shown a flow switch assembly 101 whereinthere are two valve members 105. Each valve member is mounted by arespective lower body portion 104 and is actuable by camming pins orprotrusions mounted from an upper body portion 103. The flow switchassembly 101 of FIG. 11 illustrates a multi valve member assembly thatmay utilise the basic technology as hereinbefore described. Daisychaining of a number of valve assemblies as described herein where twoor more are engaged together can be employed or used.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 11 the two lower body portions 104are shown to be fixed whereas the upper body portion 103 is capable ofrotation relative to both lower body portions 104. This will allow themovement of the valve members 105 by the relative rotation of the upperbody portion 103 relative to the lower body portions 104. The valvemembers 105 may be provided so that a movement of the upper body portion103 may simultaneously move both valve members 105. Such movement mayopen one and close another of the valve members or open and close bothsimultaneously.

Partial opening and closure may also be a relative positionalrelationship that can exist between the two valve members. The passage(or opening of the upper/lower body portion) through one of the valvemembers 105 may be significantly larger than the passage through theother valve member thereby allowing for one of the valve members toremain in an open or closed condition for longer than the other of thevalve members during a rotation of the upper body portion 103. Such aconfiguration can also control different flow rates.

The assembly of FIG. 11 may also include a variation where the lowerbody portions are rotatable relative to each other and relative to theupper body portion. This will allow for independent control of the twovalve members to occur. The assembly of FIG. 11 may have application fordrink bottles. The openable cavity 191 provided between the valvemembers may contain a tablet 192 of some form that, upon the rotation ofa valve member disposed between the cavity and the containment region ofa bottle, can allow for the tablet to fall into the containment regionof the bottle. The tablet 192 may for example be a water treatmenttablet to decontaminate the water of undesirable or harmfulcontaminants. Once the valve member is opened to allow the tablet todrop into the containment region, the upper valve member may then beopened to allow for the contents of the containment region of the drinkbottle to be consumed. The tablet may, be a flavouring tablet or anovelty tablet to change the colour of the liquid within the containmentregion of the bottle. The tablet may also be used for the purposes ofaerating or effervescing the liquid. The tablet may alternatively be agel, a capsule, or any other suitable form of additive.

The valve member 105 (or the openings through either or both its relatedbody portions) distal most from the bottle may provide an opening orpassage there through that is of a size insufficient to allow a tabletto pass through the passage or opening of the valve 105. Therefore theonly way that the tablet can pass is through an opening or passagethrough the valve 105 proximate most the bottle so as to allow for thedisplacement of the tablet into the bottle only. This will prevent theremoval of the tablet from the cavity or duct 191 and will only allowfor the tablet to pass into the container region of the bottle.

FIG. 11 c illustrates a variation to that shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11 cthe openable cavity 191 includes an outlet opening 193 that can allowthe passing of a fluid or solid that enters the openable cavity 191 fromeither of the two inlets designated “in” of the lower body portions 104.This variation allows for a flow of fluid and mixing of fluid to occurbetween the inlet or inlets and the outlet.

With reference to FIG. 11 d there is shown a variation to that of FIGS.11 and 11 c wherein an outlet, provided by one of the lower bodyportions 104, can allow for fluid to be dispensed from the device asshown wherein the fluid may be a mixture of that previously separatedand contained in the cavity 191 and in a further cavity 194. An openingof the left more valve assembly 105 may occur allowing for the fluid inthe cavities 194 and 191 to mix whereupon after mixing, an opening ofthe right more valve member 105 allows for the mixture to be dispensed.

With reference to FIG. 11 e, there is shown a variation wherein adirectional control of flow can be established. Two outlets are providedwherein in a first mode fluid exits only from the lower more outlet asshown and in a second mode fluid through both the outlets as shown.

With reference to FIG. 11 a and 11 b there is shown a valve member 5that where a passage 9 a can be defined in part by the slot 9 a of thevalve member that, in co-operation with the valve housing, can establisha passage between the inlet and outlet of the valve housing. FIGS. 11 aand 11 b illustrates that it need not be the valve solely that definesthe passage but that the passage may be provided in part by the valveand the valve housing.

With reference to FIG. 12 there is shown a flow switch assembly 201 thatincorporates a valve member 205 that is of a non-spherical shape. Thevalve member 205 is of a partial spherical shape and includes a spoutregion 222 provided at the outlet end of the passage 209 of the valvemember 205. The spout region 222 is shaped to allow for it to at leastin part extend into the mouth of a user. The spout region 222 of thevalve member 205 extends beyond the boundary of the upper body portion203 and can hence be inserted into the mouth of a user.

The spout region 222 is preferably defined by a cutting away of part ofan otherwise spherical (or otherwise shaped) valve member 205. Thecutaway portions of the valve member 205 allow for a spout region 222 tobe defined as part of the valve member 205. The upper body portion 203may be modified to allow for the spout region 222 to be capable ofprojecting beyond the upper surface 223 of the upper body portion 203.In a closed condition the valve member 205 is still capable of beingrotated to prevent communication between the inlet port 207 and theoutlet port 208 of the valve member 205. Indeed in this example theoutlet port 208 serves the function to allow for the outlet spout 222 topass therethrough when the flow switch assembly 201 is in the opencondition. In this position, the spout allows fluid communication orfluid passage via said outlet 208 of said upper body portion 203. Inthis condition, the fluid or solid passage or fluid communication is notstrictly between said inlet and outlet of said housing but between theinlet of the housing and the outlet spout, via the outlet of thehousing.

The upper body portion 203 may be shaped to include an outlet port 208that may include a slot or channel 224 via which the spout region 222 ofthe valve member 205 can pass in moving between the open condition andthe closed condition of the flow switch assembly 201. However such aslot or channel 224 need not necessarily be provided and the outlet port208 may be of a size to accommodate full rotation of a fully sphericalvalve member 205. When in the closed condition the partially sphericalsurface 225 of the spout region 222 is still capable of sealing againsta complimentary surface of the internal cavity 206 defined by the upperand lower body portions 203 and 204 to close the flow switch.

With reference to FIG. 14 there is shown a flow switch assembly 301wherein the upper and lower body portions 303 and 304 include a singleoutlet and inlet port 308/307 respectively. In this example the valvemember 305 includes a plurality of passages 309. Each such passages arecapable of being moved to a position to allow for a fluid communicationor flow passage for fluid or solids to be established therethrough. Inthis configuration it is also possible for some and not all of thepassages 309 to establish such fluid communication. This variation ofthe flow switch assembly 301 will allow for the valve member 305 toaccurately establish a variable sized flow path, because the valvemember 305 can allow for a variable flow rate to be defined. Where someform of indexing of the relative rotation of the upper body portion andlower body portion 303/304 can be established (and this is hereinafterdescribed by reference to FIG. 25) the flow switch assembly 301 canallow for variable flow path sizes to be established between the inletand outlet ports 7/8 (307/308).

FIG. 15 shows a variation to the multiple flow path defining valvemember 305. In this example a single inlet 326 is provided positionedadjacent the inlet port 307 of the lower body portion 304. A bifurcatedpassage or a multi passage branching from the inlet 326 of the passage309 is shown in FIG. 15. Multiple outlets 327 are provided by the valvemember 305. The multiple outlets 327 can be presented to the outlet port308 to establish flow communication between the inlet port 307 and 308.Rotation of the valve member 305 can also allow for variable flow pathsand variable flow rates.

With reference to FIG. 16 there is shown a further variation to the flowswitch assembly 301 wherein multiple inlet ports 307 and multiple outletports 308 are provided. In the example shown in FIG. 16 a single passage309 extends through the valve member 305. In this example the flowswitch assembly 301 is capable of providing selective fluidcommunication between different inlet and outlet ports 307/308. Thisallows for a switching between different channels for, for example,dispensing different fluids or solids or controlling flow such as forhydraulics application. The flow switch assembly of FIG. 16 may forexample have application in bars. The flow switch of FIG. 16 will allowfor a single drinks dispenser to selectively dispense discrete or amixture of different beverages. The outlet ports 308 may remain discreteor such may merge into a single conduit for delivery via a single outlet(not shown) for dispensing beverages into a glass. The inlet ports 307may each individually be in fluid communication with differentreservoirs containing different beverages. Indexing as for examplehereinafter described between the upper and lower body portions 303 and304 may be provided to facilitate channel selection.

FIG. 17 shows multiple inlet ports 307 and a single outlet port 308 toallow for selective communication to be established between individualinlet ports 307 and the single outlet port 308 by the passage 309 of thevalve member 305. A variation to this is where multiple outlet ports maybe served by a single inlet port. This has application in flow ratecontrol and/or flow path control.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow switch assembly 401 that includes an upperbody portion 403 and a lower body portion 404. With reference to FIG. 22it can be seen that the flow switch assembly of FIG. 21 also includes avalve member 405 rotatable in a manner as hereinbefore described toallow for fluid communication to be established between the inlet port407 and 408. In the condition as shown in FIG. 22 the valve assembly 401is in a closed condition as a result of the passage 409 being out ofalignment with at least one and preferably both the inlet and outletports 407/408. In this example it can be seen that the internal cavity406 need not be of a complimentary shape to the shape of the valvemember 405. It can also be seen that the valve member 405 need not becompletely spherical.

The valve member 405 includes sealing surfaces 428 that are capable ofseating with respective seating surfaces 429 of one or both of the upperand lower body portions 403 and 404. Such seating occurs when the valvemember is in a condition to define a valve assembly in a closedcondition as shown in FIG. 22 and preferably also when in an opencondition as shown in FIG. 24. However in the open condition as shown inFIG. 24, such seating of the sealing surfaces 428 with the seating 429need not necessarily occur. Some fluid may in such a condition also passthrough or displace into the internal cavity 406.

The flow switch assembly 401 shown in FIGS. 21-24 includes a featurethat enables a clamped sealing of the valve sealing surfaces 428 and thevalve seating surfaces 429 to be established. With reference to FIG. 22it can be seen that the upper body portion 403 includes a ramped orwedge shaped cam member 430. The wedge 430 is rotatable with the upperbody portion 403. The wedge 430 includes ramped surfaces 431 on bothsides of its apex 432. The ramped surfaces extend outwardly from theapex 432 in a direction tangential or on the arc of a radius about therotational axis XX of the upper and lower body portions 403 and 404. Theramped surfaces are of a camming nature provided to interact with a camfollower 433 provided by the lower body portion 404. In the exampleshown in FIG. 22-24 the cam follower may be part of the lower bodyportion and positioned to allow interaction with the ramped surfaces atcertain angular positions of the upper and lower body portions.

The ramped surfaces 431 interact with the cam follower 433 at points ofrelative rotation between the upper and lower body portions when thevalve member is at and immediately prior to both or one of the open andclosed conditions. The interaction between the ramped surfaces and thecam follower is such that when sealing between the sealing surfaces 428and the seating surfaces 429 is required (i.e. when the valve assemblyis in a closed condition and preferably also when it is in the opencondition), the ramped surfaces encourage a displacement in or parallelto the axial direction XX of the upper and lower body portions to bringthese together.

The bringing together of the upper and lower body portions as a resultof the interaction between the ramped surfaces and the cam follower willresult in a pressing of the seating surfaces 429 onto the sealingsurfaces 428. Such a clamping or pressing results in a better seal beingestablished between the sealing surfaces 428 and seating surfaces 429.The relative tangential positioning of the ramped surfaces and camfollower or followers of the upper and lower body portions respectively,will allow for such a clamping to be established at the appropriatepoints of relative rotation between the upper and lower body portionscorresponding to appropriate angular positions of the valve member.

Whilst the wedge 430 may include two ramp surfaces, one on each side ofthe apex 432, it will be appreciated that the wedge may only include oneramped surface for the purposes of interaction with one cam follower. Insuch an example, clamping would only occur in one of the open or closedpositions of the valve member (preferably the closed condition).

Whilst reference has herein been made to cam surfaces and cam followers,it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that such clampingmay be established by a leaf spring arrangement being representative ofa cam of the kind as hereinbefore described. A leaf spring arrangementmay be provided to allow for a cam follower to run up the surface of aleaf spring and progressively allow for relative movement between theupper and lower body portions to be biased in a direction for sealing.

With reference to the FIGS. 22-24 where there is shown discrete rampedsurfaces. An alternative to such an arrangement may be the provision ofa threaded like arrangement. A threaded like arrangement between theupper and lower body portions can allow for the upper and lower bodyportions to move closer together to thereby clamp the valve memberbetween the open or closed conditions at desired relative angularrotations of the upper and lower body portions.

With reference to FIG. 18 there is shown a flow switch assembly 501 thatdoes not include an inlet port. The flow switch assembly 501 includes alower body portion 504 and an upper body portion 503 movable relative toeach other in a manner as previously described and each to interact witha valve member 505. In this example the valve member (or containermember) 505 defines a fluid containing reservoir 534. The reservoir 534can be charged with a fluid or solid to be dispensed via an outlet 527of the container member 505. The outlet 527 can be moved in and out ofcommunication with an outlet port 508 of the upper body portion 503.When in alignment with the outlet port 508 the fluid or solid or solidscontained within the reservoir 534 can be displaced therefrom.

With reference to FIG. 19 there is shown an overcap 621 that has beendesigned to interact with parts of the flow switch assembly 601 as shownfor example in shown in FIG. 20. The flow switch assembly 601 of FIG. 20may be of a kind as herein described. The overcap 621 includes legs 635that are capable of locating within apertures or slots 636 of both theupper and lower body portions 603 and 604. However the apertures 636 ofeach of the upper and lower body portions 603 and 604 may only be inalignment when for example flow switch assembly 601 is in the closedcondition as shown in FIG. 20. The overcap 621 may hence only fullyengage with the flow switch assembly 601 when the flow switch assembly601 has been moved to a fully closed condition. In the fully closedcondition the legs 635 can extend into the apertures 636 of both upperand lower body portions and be fully seated with the valve assembly andlock relative rotation.

The provision of an overcap 621 that can only engage with a flow switchassembly 601 when the assembly is in a fully closed condition providesthe benefit to ensure that the valve is complete closed by a user beforethe overcap is engaged to the valve assembly. This may have applicationfor example where the valve assembly is used as a valve on a petrol tankof a vehicle. The overcap 621 can hence only be engaged to the flowswitch assembly when the petrol tank has been fully closed by the flowswitch assembly. This should avoid the flow switch assembly remainingopen or partially open. An alternative to the overcap locking mechanismas shown, is a locking pin provided to prevent rotation between theupper and lower body portions. Such a locking pin may extend throughapertures of the upper and lower body portions like that shown withreference to the overcap to prevent the relative movement between theupper and lower body portions.

Alternatively the overcap locking mechanism or locking pin may be usedto keep the valve in an open position.

With reference to FIG. 20 a there is shown an upper and lower bodyportion wherein a locking element 635 is shown to engage between theupper and lower housing 603 and 604. The locking element may be a pinthat can insert between a cavity defined by the upper and lowerportions. Other variations will be apparent to a person skilled in theart. Indeed a tamper evident element 639 may be provided to lock therelative rotation together. This is for example shown in FIG. 20 b. Thetamper evident ring or element 639 may be severable from the upper andlower housing to allow for relative rotation to occur.

FIG. 25 shows part of a flow switch assembly where each of the upper andlower body portions 803/804 includes indexing means 838. The indexingmeans may for example include a ball bearing 839, part of the upper bodyportion 803, biased by a spring 840 towards the lower body portion 804.The lower body portion 804 may include a plurality of recesses 841 witheach of which the ball bearing 839 can locate. The plurality of recesses841 may be spaced so that upon relative rotation of the upper and lowerbody portions an indexed rotation can be established between the upperand lower body portions to discrete relative rotational positions. Suchmay have application with respect to the variations of the flow switchas shown in FIGS. 14-17.

With reference to FIG. 25 a there is shown a variation to that shown inFIG. 25 wherein a ratchet like engagement between the upper body portion803 and lower body portion 804 occurs. Both the upper and lower bodyportions may include a ratchet surface or surfaces 843 that can matewith each other for the purposes of locking or providing an interferencefit between the upper and lower housings to restrict or restrain orlimit relative movement.

With reference to FIG. 21A, there is shown a profiled perimeter surfaceprovided to at least one or both of the upper and lower body portions.FIG. 21 A shows a plan view of for example the valve assembly shown inside view in FIG. 21. A hexagonal surfaced region of one or both of theupper and lower body portions may be provided to allow for a crescent orspanner or the like to engage with the valve. In some applications itmay not be desirable for relative rotation to be conveniently achievedbetween the upper and lower body portions but that such rotation can beachieved by the use of a torque applying device such as a wrench orcrescent. Indeed in some applications the valve of the present inventionmay only be desired to be capable of being rotated by authorisedpersonnel. As such specially designed driving devices with certainprofiles to engage with an uncommon driving profile provided by one orboth of the upper and lower body portions may be provided.

FIG. 26 shows a flow switch assembly wherein one or both of the upper orlower body portions is in part controlled for movement by a springmechanism. The upper body portion 1203 may have one or two springs 1291engaged to it the springs biasing the rotation of the upper body portion1203 towards a certain limit of movement. For example the certain limitof movement may be where the springs are disposed to be positioned onaxis AA as shown in FIG. 26. The springs may be coil springs or leafsprings or similar. The springs may work in tension or compression.Other biasing means may also be used.

The upper body portion 1203 may be rotated clockwise such that thepoints P at where the springs 1291 engage the upper body portion aredisplaced to positions P₁. The release of the upper body portion 1203 byfor example a hand rotating the upper body portion to positions P₁, willresult in the upper body portion returning back to the position wherethe points P are on the axis AA. Such biasing of rotation of the upperbody portion 1203 may be to allow for an over centre or toggle positionto be assumed by the upper body portion 1203 in relation to the springs1291. Such an over centre position may allow for the upper body portion1203 to remain in such a position without having to be held by a hand ofa user in such a position. Such a mechanism would operate similar to anover centre toggle latch or spring or the like. The valve thatincorporates such a bias as for example shown in FIG. 26 may be usedwhere the flow switch is a boat bung to control the drainage of waterinto and out of a boat. Other applications will also be apparent to aperson skilled in the art.

With reference to FIG. 27 there is shown a variation to the valve memberof the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 whereinthe valve member 5 includes the cam lobes 16A and 16B in opposedlocations on the valve member on opposite sides of the valve member.This illustrates that it is not essential that the lobe pairing 16A and16B are provided to one side of a plane extending through the axis at 13but may be provided on opposite sides. This configuration can offersharing of the force being transferred to the valve element 5.

However, preferably the lobes 16 a and 16 b as for example shown withreference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, remain above the YX plane. This ensuresthat no recess, rebate or account needs to be taken for receiving thelobes by the lower body portion of the valve housing. Accordinglyrotation of the valve member between its limits, is preferably effectedwithin 180 degrees of its rotation about the Y axis and above the. Z-Yplane. In the preferred form however the reaction surfaces of the camlobes do tend to being or towards being parallel with the ZY plane at atleast one of the limits of rotation of the valve member. This enhancesthe force applied by the cam pin 17 in a direction parallel to the Xaxis and can facilitate in a pushing home of the valve member in itsseat for the purposes of sealing.

With reference to FIGS. 29 and 30 there is shown a flow switch assemblyillustrating the fact that the inlet and outlet 7, 8 to the valvehousing need not be in axial alignment. Indeed the fluid passage 9through the valve member 5 may be provided so as to allow fluidcommunication between the inlet and the outlet 7, 8 as shown in theposition of the upper and lower body portions 3, 4 in FIG. 29. No fluidcommunication can be established between the inlet and outlet 7, 8 whenthe upper and lower body portions 3, 4 are in the rotation orientationshown in FIG. 30.

Wherein reference has been made to the fluid passage 9 or passage forsolids, being through the valve member 5 it will be appreciated and withreference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, that the valve member may include afluid passage defined by the valve member in conjunction with the valvehousing for fluid communication between the inlet(s) and outlet(s).

As has hereinbefore been mentioned the flow switch or valve assembly ofthe present invention may include a tablet or pill or similar. Withreference to FIG. 31, there is shown a flow switch assembly 1 whereinsuch a tablet 192 is located within the passage 9 of the valve member 5.Where the tablet is to be encouraged to be displaced into the container10, the passage 9 may be of a shape which will prevent the tablet 192from passing through the outlet port 8′ of the valve member 5. Forexample the outlet port 8′ of the valve member 5 may be of a smallersize or at least of a size to interfere with the passage of the tablet192 therethrough, than the inlet port 7′ of the valve member 5. As canbe seen with reference to FIG. 31, the inlet port 7′ is of a sufficientsize such that when the valve member 5 is rotated to the open position,the tablet 192 can drop through the opening 7′ but cannot pass throughthe outlet 8′ due to the constriction 9′ of the passage 9 through thevalve member 5. In the example shown in FIG. 31, the constriction isprovided between the inlet and outlets 7′, 8′. However alternatively theconstrictions could be provided at the outlet 8′. With reference to FIG.32, it can be seen that the constriction is not provided by the passage9 but rather by the outlet 8 of the upper body portion 3. Again in thisconfiguration the tablet 192 is prevented from passing out through theopening 8 and is rather, encouraged to drop through the inlet opening 7of the flow switch assembly. In applications where for example thetablet provides a water sterilisation purpose, the configuration of thepassage and/or the outlet 8 (or 8′) and the inlet 7 (or 7′) will ensurethat the tablet is discharged into the liquid in the container 10 ratherthan being lost by its passage in the wrong direction through theopening 8.

1. A flow switch assembly comprising; (a) a valve housing that includesan upper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatablyengaged relative each other, the upper and lower body portions defininga chamber, the housing including an inlet and outlet to said chamber (b)a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing for movementbetween an open position establishing at least one passage between saidinlet and said outlet and a closed position wherein said at least onepassage between said inlet and said outlet is non-established, (c)interactive cam elements associated with (i) at least one of (a) saidupper body portion and (b) said lower body portion, and (ii) the valvemember, the cam elements positioned to effect movement of the valvemember between the open position and the closed position when the upperbody portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower bodyportion.
 2. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidlower body portion provides said inlet to said chamber, and wherein saidlower body portion is integrally formed with a container.
 3. A flowswitch assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said container is aconsumer beverage container.
 4. A flow switch assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein a second valve housing is provided, said second valvehousing including an upper body portion (the “second upper bodyportion”) and a lower body portion (the “second lower body portion”),the second upper and lower body portions defining a chamber (the “secondchamber”) capturing a valve member (the “second valve member”), thesecond valve housing including and inlet and outlet to said secondchamber, said second valve member seated in the second chamber of thesecond valve housing for movement between a position (herein after “openposition”) defining a passage (the second passage) between said inletand said outlet of said second valve housing and a position (hereinafter “closed position”) wherein said second passage is non-established(preferably by said second valve member sealing at least one of saidinlet and outlet of said second chamber), interactive cam elementsassociated with said second valve housing and the second valve memberfor moving the second valve member between the open position and theclosed position when the second upper body portion of the second valvehousing is rotated relative to said second lower body portion, wherein aduct is provided intermediate of or defined by said first mentionedupper body portion and said second lower body portion to define apassage between the first mentioned outlet and said second inlet whereinsaid duck may preferably include an opening.
 5. A flow switch assemblyas claimed in claim 4 wherein said first mentioned upper body portion isengaged or integrally formed with said second lower body portion.
 6. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first mentionedvalve member can move independently of said second valve member.
 7. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said duct retains atablet.
 8. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidfirst mentioned inlet is of a size to allow the passing of said tabletfrom said duct through said inlet when said first mentioned valve-member is in said open position.
 9. A flow switch assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein, when said valve member is in said open position, saidvalve member establishes a plurality of said passages between said inletand outlet.
 10. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid valve member includes a plurality of ducts to define at least twoof said passages and wherein at least one of said lower and upper bodyportions includes a plurality of said inlet and outlets respectively,each duct of said plurality of ducts capable, upon the rotation of saidvalve member, of moving into and out of a said open position being onewhere at least one passage is established between (i) an or the inlet ofsaid lower body portion and (ii) an or the outlet of said upper bodyportion.
 11. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein eachsaid plurality of ducts are mutually exclusive in providing a passagebetween an or the said inlet and an or the outlet, to the other of saidplurality of ducts or ducts of said valve member.
 12. A flow switchassembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve member has a pluralityof ducts to each define a said passage at different angles of rotationof said valve member other than when said valve member is in the closedposition.
 13. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein saidplurality of ducts are discrete ducts through said valve member.
 14. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said plurality ofducts is a bifurcated duct.
 15. A flow switch assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said valve member includes a duct therethrough via whichsaid passage is established, said duct including an outlet opening, saidvalve member being shaped to present said outlet opening projectingbeyond said outlet of said housing when said valve member is in saidopen position.
 16. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 whereina removable overcap is provided, said housing engagable with a removableovercap to conceal said outlet of said housing.
 17. A flow switchassembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said overcap can engage withsaid housing only when said valve member is not in said open position.18. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said upper andlower body portions each include overcap receiving regions, saidreceiving regions of said upper and lower body portions being movablerelative to each other to be in and out of register with each other,wherein when in register they are only then capable of engaging saidovercap with said housing, said means to engage being in register onlywhen said valve member is not in said open condition.
 19. A flow switchassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a ring is provided to engageabout at least part of both of said upper and lower body portions tolock relative rotation there between until such time as said ring isreleased from said upper and lower body portion.
 20. A flow switchassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower bodyportions include a receptacle to receive a locking element to lockrelative rotation of said upper and lower body portions, said receptaclebeing defined by both said upper and lower body portions.
 21. A flowswitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper body portionand said lower body portion are rotatably engaged with each other toallow relative rotation about an axis, there being provided by saidupper and lower body portions a means cooperative to, at a rotationalposition of said upper and lower body portions corresponding to thevalve member being in at least one of said open and closed position,draw said upper and lower body portions together more to thereby effecta clamping of the valve member by said housing to encourage said valvemember to thereby sealingly engage one of said inlet and outlet.
 22. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said meanscooperative is a cam and cam follower provided by said upper and lowerbody portions respectively.
 23. A flow switch assembly as claimed inclaim 21 wherein said means cooperative are complementary threads isprovided by way of a threaded engagement of said upper and lower bodyportions.
 24. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein saidclamping by said valve housing with said valve member occurs at at leastone of said inlet and outlet to said chamber to seal against said valvemember about said inlet and/or outlet.
 25. A flow switch assembly asclaimed in claim 21 wherein one of said upper and lower body portionsincludes a skirt region with an internally presented interface region tointerface with an externally presented interface region of the other ofsaid upper and lower body portions to hold said upper and lower bodyportions together for said relative rotation about said axis, said skirtregion including a cam surface providing cam surface deviation in adirection parallel to said axis and over which a cam follower of theexternally presented interface can slide, said deviation being such thatthe cam follower is displaced in a direction parallel to said axis bysaid cam surface.
 26. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein said upper body portion and said lower body portion arerotatably engaged with each other to allow relative rotation about anaxis, and wherein said upper and lower body portions can displacerelative each other in a direction parallel the axis, said displacementcontrolled by a threaded engagement of said upper and lower bodyportions said threaded engagement being such that at a rotationalposition of said upper and lower body portions corresponding to thevalve member being in at least one of said open and closed position,said upper and lower body portions are in a more proximate displacementto effect a clamping of the valve member by said housing to encouragesaid valve member to thereby sealingly engage one of said inlet andoutlet.
 27. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidupper body portion and said lower body portion are rotatably engagedwith each other to allow relative rotation about an axis, and whereinsaid upper and lower body portions can displace relative each other in adirection parallel the axis, said displacement controlled by a rampedsurface of at least one of said upper and lower body portionsinteracting with a reaction surface or like ramped surface of the otherof said upper and lower body portion at a rotational position of saidupper and lower body portions corresponding to the valve member being inat least one of said open and closed position, said upper and lower bodyportions are in a more proximate displacement to effect a clamping ofthe valve member by said housing to encourage said valve member tothereby sealingly engage one of said inlet and outlet.
 28. A flow switchassembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 wherein said upper and lowerbody portions are rotatable relative to each other about an axis, therotation being indexed by indexing means of said valve housingcooperating between said upper and lower body portions.
 29. A flowswitch assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said indexing meansencourages the holding of a relative rotational position (herein after“an index position”) of said upper an lower body portions.
 30. A flowswitch assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein a said index position iswhen said upper and lower body portions are rotated relative to eachother corresponding to said valve member being in said open condition.31. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein a said indexposition is when said upper and lower body portions are rotated relativeto each other corresponding to said valve member being in said closedcondition.
 32. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein aplurality of said index positions are provided.
 33. A flow switchassembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a spring is provided to bias therotation of said valve member for rotation towards one of said open andclosed conditions.
 34. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 33wherein said spring is mounted to act between said valve member and saidlower body portion to bias said valve member.
 35. A flow switch assemblyas claimed in claim 33 wherein said spring is mounted to act betweensaid upper and lower body portions to bias their relative rotation tobias said valve member.
 36. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1wherein said valve member is mounted by said lower body portion by axlesthat define an axis of rotation about which said valve member can rotateand relative to which said lower body portion remains stationary andsaid upper body portion can rotate about said axis relative said lowerbody portion that is non parallel to said first axis.
 37. A consumerbeverage container comprising; a container portion a lower valve bodyportion integrally formed with said container portion, an upper valvebody portion rotatably engaged with said lower valve body portion anddefining with said lower valve body portion a chamber, said lower valvebody portion including at least one passage creating an inlet to saidchamber to allow fluid passage between said container portion and saidchamber, the upper valve body portion including an outlet to saidchamber, a valve member seated in the chamber, said valve member mountedfor movement between a position (herein after “open position”) definingat least one passage between said inlet and said outlet and a position(herein after “closed position”) wherein said at least one passagebetween said inlet and outlet is non-established (preferably said valvemember sealing at least one of said inlet and outlet), means operativelyassociated with (i) at least one of (a) said upper and (b) lower valvebody portions, and (ii) the valve member, for moving the valve memberbetween the open position and the closed position when the upper valvebody portion of the housing is rotated relative to said lower valve bodyportion.
 38. A consumer beverage container including a containerdefining body having an outlet for transferring fluid to and from saidcontainer defining body and a flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1to operatively control the transfer of fluid.
 39. A consumer beveragecontainer as claimed in claim 38 wherein the lower body portion of saidflow switch is integrally formed with said container defining body. 40.A consumer beverage container comprising a container body portion havinga flow switch assembly controlled outlet wherein said flow switchassembly is one as claimed in claim
 4. 41. A consumer beverage containeras claimed in claim 40 wherein said first mentioned lower body portionis integrally formed with said container defining body.
 42. A consumerbeverage container as claimed in claim 40 wherein said first mentionedlower body portion is engaged with said container body portion.
 43. Aflow switch assembly comprising; (a) a valve housing that includes anupper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatable relativeeach other, the upper and lower body portions defining a chamber, saidlower body portion including a plurality of inlets to said chamber andsaid upper body portion including at least one outlet to said chamber,(b) a valve member seated in the chamber of the valve housing, saidvalve member mounted for movement relative to said valve housing betweendiscrete positions each of said discrete positions allowing theestablishment by said valve member of a passage between one of saidinlets and (a) or the said outlet, (c) interactive camming elementsassociated with said valve housing and the valve member for moving thevalve member between the discrete positions when the upper body portionof the housing is rotated relative to said lower body portion.
 44. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 43 wherein said valve member ismounted for movement relative to said valve housing between discretepositions being ones (i) defining of a passage between a said inlet anda or the said outlet and (ii) defining a closed position, wherein saidvalve member seals at least one of (a) all of said inlets and (b) saidoutlet(s).
 45. A flow switch assembly comprising; (a) a valve housingthat includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that arerotatably engaged to each other, the upper and lower body portionsdefining a chamber, said lower body portion including at least one inletto said chamber and said upper body portion including a plurality ofoutlets to said chamber, (b) a valve member seated in the chamber of thevalve housing, said valve member mounted for movement relative to saidvalve housing between discrete positions each of said discrete positionsallowing the establishing by said valve member of a passage between (a)or the said inlet and one of said outlets, (c) interactive cam elementsassociated with said valve housing and the valve member for moving thevalve member between the discrete positions when the upper body portionof the housing is rotated relative to said lower body portion.
 46. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 45 wherein said valve member ismounted for movement relative to said valve housing between discretepositions being ones (i) defining a passage between one of said outletsand a or the said outlet and (ii) defining a closed position, whereinsaid valve member seals at least one of (a) all of said outlets and (b)said inlet(s).
 47. A container comprising; a housing that includes anupper body portion and a lower body portion, the upper and lower bodyportions defining a chamber, the housing including an outlet to saidchamber, a container member seated in the chamber of the housing, saidcontainer member including a reservoir to contain a substance andincluding at least one outlet for said substance, said container membermounted for movement between a position (herein after “open position”)allowing at least one passage to be formed between said outlet of saidcontainer member and said outlet to said chamber and a position (hereinafter “closed position”) wherein said container member seals said outletof said chamber, interactive camming elements associated with saidhousing and the container member for moving the container member betweenthe open position and the closed position when the upper body portion ofthe housing is rotated relative to said lower body portion.
 48. Acontainer as claimed in claim 47 wherein said container member includesonly one outlet that is rotatable to be contiguous with said outlet ofsaid housing when said container member is rotated to said openposition.
 49. A container as claimed in claim 47 wherein, when saidcontainer member is in said open position, said container memberestablishes at least one passage to allow displacement of said substancebetween said fluid outlet and outlet of said housing.
 50. A container asclaimed in claim 47 wherein said container member is mounted by saidvalve housing for rotation relative to said valve housing, about a firstaxis.
 51. A container as claimed in claim 47 wherein said containermember is substantially spherical in its outer perimeter shape.
 52. Acontainer as claimed in claim 51 wherein said chamber of said housing isof a substantially complementary shape to said spherical containermember.
 53. A container as claimed in claim 47 wherein said housingincludes at least one other outlet in addition to said first mentionedoutlet and with which said outlet of said container member can create apassage to allow transfer of said substance from said reservoir.
 54. Acontainer as claimed in claim 47 wherein said outlet(s) of said housingare provided by said upper body portion.
 55. A flow switch assembly asclaimed in claim 1 wherein at least one tablet is disposed in said valvemember and wherein at least one of (a) said outlet; and (b) said passagecreated when said valve member is in the open condition, preventsdisplacement of said tablet through said outlet when said valve memberis in the open position yet said inlet is of a shape to allow saidtablet to pass therethrough when said valve member is in said openposition.
 56. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidvalve element can include a tablet and wherein said outlet is of a shapethat prevents the passage of said tablet through said outlet.
 57. A flowswitch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outlet is of asmaller size than said inlet.
 58. A flow switch assembly as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said passage is formed by at least one duct passingthrough said valve member, said duct having an inlet and an outlet thatwhen in an open position of the valve member are presented to the inletand outlet of said housing respectively to create said passage.
 59. Aflow switch assembly as claimed in claim 58 wherein a said duct includesa constriction between said inlet and outlet.
 60. A flow switch assemblyas claimed in claim 58 wherein said duct includes a tablet that isprevented by said constriction from displacing through said outlet ofsaid valve member.
 61. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 59wherein said duct includes a tablet that is prevented by saidconstriction from displacing through said outlet of said valve member.62. A flow switch assembly as claimed in claim 55 wherein said passageformed in the open position includes a constriction wherein said tabletis prevented by said constriction from displacing through said outlet ofsaid valve member.
 63. A flow switch assembly comprising; (a) a valvehousing that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portionthat are rotatably engaged relative each other, the upper and lower bodyportions defining a chamber, the housing including an inlet and outletto said chamber (b) a valve member seated in said chamber of the valvehousing and rotatable about an axis of rotation between two limits ofrotation, said valve member including a plurality of ducts eachincluding an inlet and an outlet opening to said inlet and outlet ofsaid housing to create at least two passages between said inlet andoutlet of said housing wherein at least one of said passages is createdat different rotational positions of said valve member between itslimits of rotation, (c) interactive cam elements operatively associatedwith (i) at least one of (a) said upper body portion and (b) lower bodyportion, and (ii) the valve member, for moving the valve member betweenits limits of rotation when the upper body portion of the housing isrotated relative to said lower body portion.